Lord we pray "Help me to continually increase parish vitality and reflect the presence of Christ in the world."

Browsing News Entries

Browsing News Entries

Catholic population remains stable at 17.8% of world population; baptisms decline, number of priests rises (CWN)

17.8% of the world’s people are Catholic, a figure that remained steady in 2024, according to statistics published in the new editions of the Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae (2024 edition) and Annuario Pontificio (2026 edition).

Pope Leo appoints new Sostituto and new Prefect of the Papal Household (CWN)

Pope Leo XIV today named Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, the apostolic nuncio to Colombia, as the new Sostituto. The Pontiff also named Archbishop Petar Rajič, the apostolic nuncio to Italy and San Marino, as the new Prefect of the Papal Household, and in doing so filled a position that has been vacant for three years.

13-year decline in worldwide priestly vocations accelerates (CWN)

The 13-year decline in the number of major seminarians worldwide accelerated during 2024, the last full year of Pope Francis’s pontificate, according to statistics published in the new editions of the Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae (2024 edition) and Annuario Pontificio (2026 edition).

Israeli Police Block Cardinal, Custos From Entering Church of the Holy Sepulchre

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Mar. 30 Monday of Holy Week, Triduum

For those following the readings of daily Mass in Lent, the Biblical best has been saved for Holy Week. The book of the prophet Isaiah contains four separate descriptions of a "Suffering Servant"--a shadowy figure called by God to suffer and give his life for the people. Today we read the first description of the Christ-like Suffering Servant. Isaiah shows him as chosen by God and patiently preaching justice to the nations. It is almost a description of the dedicated, patient Jesus. The Responsorial Psalm is the prayer of the Suffering Servant.

Holiness Is the Best Defense of the Faith

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The Difference St. Joseph Makes

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Sir James MacMillan’s ‘Angels Unawares’ Makes World Premiere in the Sistine Chapel

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Pope Leo XIV Says God ‘Does Not Listen’ to Prayers of Those Who Wage War

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Pope Leo: Do not forget the Christians of the Middle East (CWN)

At the end of his Palm Sunday Mass, celebrated today in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo delivered a brief Angelus address in which he drew attention to the plight of Christians in the Middle East (video, 1:51:22).